Medal Index Card

CWGC Headstone

George Furneaux was born on the 24th September 1884 at 33 Granville Street, Gateshead, the third eldest child of seven to John Brokenshire Furneaux, [born 8th July 1854, at Penryn, Cornwall, baptised 21st November 1856, died October 1912 Kensington, London], a consulting engineer, and Margaret [nee Edington born July 1854, Gateshead, Durham, died September 1910, Lambeth, London, daughter of William and Elizabeth, nee Turnbull, Eddington]. They had six other children, John, born October 1882, died 1901, William Edington, born March 1881, who died in WW1, Margaret, born April 1886, died 1968, Janet, born 28th March 1888, died 1979, Thomas Edington, born April 1890, died 24th March 1918, and Amelia born 4th June 1892, died 1973.

By 1891 the family had moved to 12 Berwick Road, Gateshead, then moved again by 1901 to 12 Gladstone Terrace, Gateshead.

George was an apprentice Engineer at his father's works Chapman and Furneaux, eventually called Clark Chapman.

George enlisted at Marylebone, [Millbank Barracks], on the 10th August 1914, where he was employed as a hospital porter at the local hospital. He joined the Royal Army Medical Corps as a private, for three years or the Duration of the War. George was 29 years and 10 months old, 5 feet nine and a half inches tall, 171lbs with a fresh complexion and Brown Eyes and Brown Hair. Service number 30376.

He is initially posted to the 63rd Field Ambulance, this was also called the Territorial Force 2/2nd Field Ambulance, West Lancashire Field Ambulance, part of the 21st Infantry Division. They were sent abroad on the 9th September 1915.

On the 1st March 1915 he is at Eastbourne receiving his inoculations, leaving after the 15th March 1915. George is posted to France on the 19th June 1915 from Southampton and arrives in Rouen on the 20th June 1915. He travelled on the King Edward. George is transferred to the ADMS of the 3rd Infantry Division.
From the 5th July 1915, he is transferred in to the 8th Field Ambulance.

The 8th Field Ambulance was in the 8th Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division.

In October 1915, the Field Ambulance was located at Poperinge and on the night of the 10th October 1915, there was enemy shelling between 8.45 and 9.15 pm near Maple Copse, where a large dugout was being used to harbour the wounded. Private George Fureneaux was wounded collecting wounded soldiers. He died of his wounds at the 8th Field Ambulance on the 11th October. His funeral was attended by 25 NCO's and men.

George's sister Amelia Furneaux was a nurse at the Seaman's Hospital Society at Dreadnought Hospital, Greenwhich, SW., which is where George's personal effects were sent.

On the 11th February, Amelia received the following items 2 Pipes, 2 spoons, 1 Pipe Cleaner, 2 Razors, 1 Knife, 1 Fork, 1 Toothbrush, 1 Shaving Brush, 1 Comb, 1 Portion of Shaving Stick, 1 Piece of Soap, 1 Pouch, 1 Housewife, 1 Holdall, 1 Boot Polish, Tin, Writing Pad and Envelopes 1, Books 2, Coin 1, Photos, Photo Case 1, Cigarette case 1, Pencils 2, Penand Pencil Holder 1, Map 1, Scissors prs 1, Letters and a Newspaper Cutting. {undated}.

In 1921 his sister Amelia, received his 3 medals.

George is not remembered on a North East War Memorial.

RAMC in the Great War
RAMC book of Remembrance
The CWGC entry for Private Furneaux